[chacha102]

My favorite part of this article is the reason for saying "SAY AGAIN" instead of "REPEAT".

  The word "REPEAT" should not be used in place of "SAY AGAIN", 
  especially in the vicinity of naval or other firing ranges, 
  as "REPEAT" is an artillery proword defined in ACP 125 U.S. 
  Supp-2(A) with the wholly different meaning of "request for the 
  same volume of fire to be fired again with or without corrections 
  or changes" (e.g., at the same coordinates as the previous round).[12]

You'd think something as destructive as artillery fire might be given a slightly longer and less common word...

[thanhhaimai]

Sometimes in real actions, you don't have that luxury for long phrases. For example, in professional gaming (Overwatch), you don't say "keep focus fire on Lucio". You only say "Lulululululu..." And keep repeating that.

Not like gaming is comparable to real combat, but a hundred milliseconds is a lot in life & death situations.

[chacha102]

That is absolutely a fair point. Speaking as someone who does not have military experience, I can't speak to it. But it would make sense that if you have the time to wait for them to repeat the phrase, that the longer phrase "SAY AGAIN" could be used.

Whereas "REPEAT" might not involve the time luxury.

[pouta]

So true. "Meimeimeimeimeimei" and "doomdoomdoomdoomdoom" are my favourite ones when playing Zen.

[hobos_delight]

Correct. I was in the Royal Australian Artillery corps for a number of years, and RATEL procedures (across all corps) drill this into you.

However it is unlikely to occur in practice - the artillery battery will (generally) be on a separate radio net, and the proword will only be applicable if you're in an active fire mission - though it's good to be safe. My wife still gets frustrated with my use of SAY AGAIN.

When you get a good sig on each end, the speed of fire mission comms is a thing of beauty - and once the mission is opened both ends will drop all callsigns.

[ronjouch]

What's "a good sig"? And what do you mean by "once the mission is opened " and "will drop all callsigns"?

[ARandomerDude]

When it's bad, you want a VERY quick way of saying "shoot it again."

The "repeat" vs "say again" distinction is so ingrained that I've been out of the military for a decade and I still always, only say "say again." I don't do it on purpose, it's just part of me now.

[JackFr]

My father, fifty years out of the navy, would still always say “Say again” if he didn’t hear you.

[inamberclad]

When I'm stressed, I go back to saying affirmative/negative instead of yes/no.

[toyg]

That actually explains why quite a few people I know tend to use that form in a way that, to me, sounds pretty rude - it's probably just natural for them.

[chacha102]

Fantastic. I was just telling the commentor before you that I do not have a military background. I'm glad you could weigh in. That makes complete sense.

[eitland]

Interesting to know.

I often use say again, but I use it because of of Limoncelly and Hogans book, "the Practice of Systems and Networks Administration" where they (or someone they refer to) suggest it works better in noisy environments.

I guess they have worked with someone with experience from the army..?